GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

D. B. Wijesinghe; E. da Cunha; A. M. Hopkins; L. Dunne; R. Sharp; M. Gunawardhana; S. Brough; E.M. Sadler; S. Driver; I. Baldry; S. Bamford; J. Liske; J. Loveday; P. Norberg; J. Peacock; C. C. Popescu; R. Tuffs; E. Andrae; R. Auld; M. Baes; J. Bland-Hawthorn; S. Buttiglione; A. Cava; E. Cameron; C. J. Conselice; A. Cooray; S. Croom; A. Dariush; G. DeZotti; S. Dye; S. Eales; C. Frenk; J. Fritz; D. Hill; R. Hopwood; E. Ibar; R. Ivison; M.J. Jarvis; D. H. Jones; E. van Kampen; L. Kelvin; K. Kuijken; S. J. Maddox; B. Madore; M. J. Michalowski; B. Nichol; H. Parkinson; E. Pascale; K. A. Pimbblet; M. Pohlen; M. Prescott; G. Rhodighiero; A. S. G. Robotham; E. E. Rigby; M. Seibert; S. Sergeant; Daniel Smith; P. Temi; W. Sutherland; E. Taylor; D. Thomas; P. van der Werf

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

D. B. Wijesinghe, E. da Cunha, A. M. Hopkins, L. Dunne, R. Sharp, M. Gunawardhana, S. Brough, E.M. Sadler, S. Driver, I. Baldry, S. Bamford, J. Liske, J. Loveday, P. Norberg, J. Peacock, C. C. Popescu, R. Tuffs, E. Andrae, R. Auld, M. BaesJ. Bland-Hawthorn, S. Buttiglione, A. Cava, E. Cameron, C. J. Conselice, A. Cooray, S. Croom, A. Dariush, G. DeZotti, S. Dye, S. Eales, C. Frenk, J. Fritz, D. Hill, R. Hopwood, E. Ibar, R. Ivison, M.J. Jarvis, D. H. Jones, E. van Kampen, L. Kelvin, K. Kuijken, S. J. Maddox, B. Madore, M. J. Michalowski, B. Nichol, H. Parkinson, E. Pascale, K. A. Pimbblet, M. Pohlen, M. Prescott, G. Rhodighiero, A. S. G. Robotham, E. E. Rigby, M. Seibert, S. Sergeant, Daniel Smith, P. Temi, W. Sutherland, E. Taylor, D. Thomas, P. van der Werf

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Abstract

We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies. We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, beta, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far/ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the beta parameter, and that beta may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using beta, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between beta and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and beta parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on beta for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1002-1012
Number of pages	11
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	415
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x
Publication status	Published - Aug 2011

Keywords

galaxies: evolution
galaxies: formation
galaxies: general

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10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

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The definitive version can be found at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
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Wijesinghe, D. B., da Cunha, E., Hopkins, A. M., Dunne, L., Sharp, R., Gunawardhana, M., Brough, S., Sadler, E. M., Driver, S., Baldry, I., Bamford, S., Liske, J., Loveday, J., Norberg, P., Peacock, J., Popescu, C. C., Tuffs, R., Andrae, E., Auld, R., ... van der Werf, P. (2011). GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 415(2), 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

@article{2d73c38b9bec423082fcb21de2de1f91,

title = "GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies",

abstract = "We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies. We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, beta, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far/ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the beta parameter, and that beta may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using beta, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between beta and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and beta parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on beta for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.",

keywords = "galaxies: evolution, galaxies: formation, galaxies: general",

author = "Wijesinghe, {D. B.} and {da Cunha}, E. and Hopkins, {A. M.} and L. Dunne and R. Sharp and M. Gunawardhana and S. Brough and E.M. Sadler and S. Driver and I. Baldry and S. Bamford and J. Liske and J. Loveday and P. Norberg and J. Peacock and Popescu, {C. C.} and R. Tuffs and E. Andrae and R. Auld and M. Baes and J. Bland-Hawthorn and S. Buttiglione and A. Cava and E. Cameron and Conselice, {C. J.} and A. Cooray and S. Croom and A. Dariush and G. DeZotti and S. Dye and S. Eales and C. Frenk and J. Fritz and D. Hill and R. Hopwood and E. Ibar and R. Ivison and M.J. Jarvis and Jones, {D. H.} and {van Kampen}, E. and L. Kelvin and K. Kuijken and Maddox, {S. J.} and B. Madore and Michalowski, {M. J.} and B. Nichol and H. Parkinson and E. Pascale and Pimbblet, {K. A.} and M. Pohlen and M. Prescott and G. Rhodighiero and Robotham, {A. S. G.} and Rigby, {E. E.} and M. Seibert and S. Sergeant and Daniel Smith and P. Temi and W. Sutherland and E. Taylor and D. Thomas and {van der Werf}, P.",

note = "The definitive version can be found at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Copyright Royal Astronomical Society",

year = "2011",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x",

language = "English",

volume = "415",

pages = "1002--1012",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press (OUP)",

number = "2",

}

Wijesinghe, DB, da Cunha, E, Hopkins, AM, Dunne, L, Sharp, R, Gunawardhana, M, Brough, S, Sadler, EM, Driver, S, Baldry, I, Bamford, S, Liske, J, Loveday, J, Norberg, P, Peacock, J, Popescu, CC, Tuffs, R, Andrae, E, Auld, R, Baes, M, Bland-Hawthorn, J, Buttiglione, S, Cava, A, Cameron, E, Conselice, CJ, Cooray, A, Croom, S, Dariush, A, DeZotti, G, Dye, S, Eales, S, Frenk, C, Fritz, J, Hill, D, Hopwood, R, Ibar, E, Ivison, R, Jarvis, MJ, Jones, DH, van Kampen, E, Kelvin, L, Kuijken, K, Maddox, SJ, Madore, B, Michalowski, MJ, Nichol, B, Parkinson, H, Pascale, E, Pimbblet, KA, Pohlen, M, Prescott, M, Rhodighiero, G, Robotham, ASG, Rigby, EE, Seibert, M, Sergeant, S, Smith, D, Temi, P, Sutherland, W, Taylor, E, Thomas, D & van der Werf, P 2011, 'GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 415, no. 2, pp. 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

TY - JOUR

T1 - GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

AU - Wijesinghe, D. B.

AU - da Cunha, E.

AU - Hopkins, A. M.

AU - Dunne, L.

AU - Sharp, R.

AU - Gunawardhana, M.

AU - Brough, S.

AU - Sadler, E.M.

AU - Driver, S.

AU - Baldry, I.

AU - Bamford, S.

AU - Liske, J.

AU - Loveday, J.

AU - Norberg, P.

AU - Peacock, J.

AU - Popescu, C. C.

AU - Tuffs, R.

AU - Andrae, E.

AU - Auld, R.

AU - Baes, M.

AU - Bland-Hawthorn, J.

AU - Buttiglione, S.

AU - Cava, A.

AU - Cameron, E.

AU - Conselice, C. J.

AU - Cooray, A.

AU - Croom, S.

AU - Dariush, A.

AU - DeZotti, G.

AU - Dye, S.

AU - Eales, S.

AU - Frenk, C.

AU - Fritz, J.

AU - Hill, D.

AU - Hopwood, R.

AU - Ibar, E.

AU - Ivison, R.

AU - Jarvis, M.J.

AU - Jones, D. H.

AU - van Kampen, E.

AU - Kelvin, L.

AU - Kuijken, K.

AU - Maddox, S. J.

AU - Madore, B.

AU - Michalowski, M. J.

AU - Nichol, B.

AU - Parkinson, H.

AU - Pascale, E.

AU - Pimbblet, K. A.

AU - Pohlen, M.

AU - Prescott, M.

AU - Rhodighiero, G.

AU - Robotham, A. S. G.

AU - Rigby, E. E.

AU - Seibert, M.

AU - Sergeant, S.

AU - Smith, Daniel

AU - Temi, P.

AU - Sutherland, W.

AU - Taylor, E.

AU - Thomas, D.

AU - van der Werf, P.

N1 - The definitive version can be found at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Copyright Royal Astronomical Society

PY - 2011/8

Y1 - 2011/8

N2 - We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies. We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, beta, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far/ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the beta parameter, and that beta may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using beta, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between beta and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and beta parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on beta for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

AB - We use multiwavelength data from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) and Herschel-ATLAS (H-ATLAS) surveys to compare the relationship between various dust obscuration measures in galaxies. We explore the connections between the ultraviolet (UV) spectral slope, beta, the Balmer decrement and the far-infrared (FIR) to 150 nm far/ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity ratio. We explore trends with galaxy mass, star formation rate (SFR) and redshift in order to identify possible systematics in these various measures. We reiterate the finding of other authors that there is a large scatter between the Balmer decrement and the beta parameter, and that beta may be poorly constrained when derived from only two broad passbands in the UV. We also emphasize that FUV-derived SFRs, corrected for dust obscuration using beta, will be overestimated unless a modified relation between beta and the attenuation factor is used. Even in the optimum case, the resulting SFRs have a significant scatter, well over an order of magnitude. While there is a stronger correlation between the IR-to-FUV luminosity ratio and beta parameter than with the Balmer decrement, neither of these correlations are particularly tight, and dust corrections based on beta for high-redshift galaxy SFRs must be treated with caution. We conclude with a description of the extent to which the different obscuration measures are consistent with each other as well as the effects of including other galactic properties on these correlations.

KW - galaxies: evolution

KW - galaxies: formation

KW - galaxies: general

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18615.x

M3 - Article

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 415

SP - 1002

EP - 1012

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 2

ER -

GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies

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